Details of Service Bantry General Hospital is a 90 bed rural and remote model 2R Hospital.
It is a member of the South/South West Hospital Group.
Bantry General Hospital operates a 24 hour open access for undifferentiated medical take.
All surgery performed within Bantry General Hospital is on a day case basis with surgical rotation from CUH.
Bantry General Hospital is a designated teaching hospital and supports the undergraduate nursing programme
Principal Duties and Responsibilities In the context of the overall care delivery within Bantry General Hospital, the role and responsibilities of the Health Care Assistant include the following:
Patient/Resident Care · To carry out all activities required as directed by the nurse in charge and as appropriate to this job description
· Assist nursing staff in the delivery of care to patients and residents
· Assist patients/residents with personal care as required and according to their care plan
· Assist patients/residents with dietary and fluid intake as required and according to their care plan and dietary plan.
· Assist patients/residents with their continence/toileting needs as required and according to their care plan.
· Assist patients/residents to mobilise as required according to their care plan.
· Act as a chaperone if required
· Accompany patients/residents to various departments in or outside hospital or to other hospitals as required
· Respond to patients/residents call bells
· Participate with the multidisciplinary team in the emergency care of patients /residents e.g.
Basic Life Support
Communication and Teamwork · Develop and maintain good interpersonal relationships with patients, relatives and other members of the multidisciplinary team
· Deal courteously with patients/residents, their families, with visitors, other healthcare workers and with anyone whom they come in to contact in the course of their duties
· Communicate effectively with all grades of staff and disciplines – contribute to effective team working
· Communicate effectively with patients and residents taking into account their differing levels of ability to understand and their condition
· Report to nursing staff any changes in the patients/residents condition or behaviour
· Complete records accurately
· Participate in and contribute to the team including handovers, meetings and service related issues as required.
· Respect diversity within the team
· Strive to foster good working relationships within the team including handling conflict
· Work effectively and co-operatively with colleagues in all disciplines
· Report telephone messages as required to person in charge
Quality and Safety · Support the implementation and evaluation of quality standards and improvement initiatives
· Work within own role, adhering to current legislation, policies, procedures protocols and guidelines
· Undertake assigned duties under the direction of a registered nurse in such a way as to ensure that care is of a high standard
· Report all complaints in accordance with hospital policy
· Ensure all actions support the enhancement of a patient-centred service and a person-centred culture within the team
· Co-operate with quality reviews /service evaluations and assist with the implementation of any necessary corrective action.
Maintaining a Safe Environment The management of Risk, Infection Prevention and Control, Hygiene Services and Health
& Safety is the responsibility of everyone.
Risk Management, Infection Prevention and Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety · Have awareness of the responsibility of all employees to maintain a safe and healthy ward environment
· Adhere to and security policy for the maternity service
· Maintain a safe and healthy environment for one's own self and others in accordance with infection prevention and control policies and procedures
· Is familiar with and adheres to all waste management policies and procedures
· Is familiar with and has undertaken the mandatory education, training and support to enable them to meet this responsibility
· Is familiar with the relevant Organisational Policies, Procedures & Standards and attend training as appropriate in the following areas - and any other areas that may be required by the ward manager
Hygiene Related Policies, Procedures and Standards Infection Prevention and Control Policies Manual Handling Safety Statement, Health & Safety Policies and Fire Procedure Data Protection and confidentiality Policies Childrens First Guidelines Basic Life Support training Continuous Quality Improvement Initiatives · Must Comply with the Hospitals Risk Management Incident/Near miss reporting Policies and Procedures.
· Must comply with hygiene services requirements in your area of responsibility.
Hygiene Services incorporates environment and facilities, hand hygiene, catering, cleaning, the management of laundry, waste, sharps and equipment.
· Foster and support a quality improvement culture in relation to hygiene services.
· Be responsible for Quality & Risk Management, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety that will be clarified in the induction process and by your line manager.
· Take reasonable care for own actions and the effect that these may have upon the safety of others.
· Cooperate with management, attend Health & Safety related training and not undertake any task for which they have not been authorised and adequately trained.
· Bring to the attention of a responsible person any perceived shortcoming in the safety arrangements or any defects in work equipment.
· Be aware of and comply with the HSE Health Care Records Management
· Be aware of responsibilities surrounding Data protection & social media guidelines
General duties · Put away stores and linen and keep all store rooms and linen rooms tidy.
Ensure there is an adequate supply of all stock, stores and linen
· Clean spillages including body fluids adhering to hospital guidelines
· Assist the nurse to defrost clinical fridges and other duties
· Ensure all medical equipment on the ward is clean and ready for use
· Label, remove and report broken equipment to the nurse in charge
· Maintain general safety of ward by ensuring floor areas are dry and fire exits are not blocked
· Adhere to hygiene standards for patient equipment and maintain a safe environment
· Check, seal and replace sharps bins as necessary
· Direct visitors to the bedside as per visiting policy and help to keep a calm, pleasant atmosphere
· Maintain signed records, including equipment and environment
· Participate in activities to support the care of patients/residents
· Manage own workload and time with the support of the registered nurse
· Participate in audit as required.
Additional Responsibilities and Duties · Provide one to one specialling to patients as appropriate and as requested by the nurse in charge
· Assist in pressure ulcer prevention and care according to care plan and as requested by the nurse.
· Ensure the correct cleaning and storage of equipment
· Report damaged equipment to ward manager and follow up equipment that requires repair, if required
· Maintain and order stores as required by ward manager
· Assist with the escort of patients and their accompanying equipment to other areas e.g.
x-ray
· Assist patients visitors staying in BGH visitors room by ensuring they are comfortable ( if this permitted by Hospital management)
Personal Development · Ensure that knowledge and skills are updated to maintain safe standards of care for patients and residents
· Participate in in-service education and training programmes and avail of other learning activities, as requested, to maintain/develop competence
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING GENERAL CONDITIONS: · Employees must attend fire lectures periodically and must observe fire orders.
· All accidents within the Department must be reported immediately.
· Infection Prevention and Control Policies must be adhered to.
· In line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 all staff must comply with all safety regulations and audits.
· In line with the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004, smoking within the Hospital Building is not permitted.
· Hospital uniform code must be adhered to.
· Employees must provide information that is timely and accurate that meets service need.
· The post holder may be expected to work in all areas within the hospital on 24/7 roster.
The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office. Informal Enquiries Catherine Harte
Assistant Director of Nursing
Email: ****** Phone: 027 52993